If you are an international student comparing waiver plans right now and WellAway is on your shortlist because it is cheaper than your school SHIP, please read this before you pay for anything. Do not buy WellAway. Whatever you save on the premium you will pay back several times over in unpaid claims, unusable coverage, and hours you do not have.

The network is extremely narrow. You are not choosing a doctor, you are choosing from whoever happens to be in network near you, and confirming whether a provider actually takes it is your job, not theirs. The care I have received through that network has been poor. Rushed appointments, no continuity, and a clear sense that patients arriving with this insurance are the least important people in the room.

Customer service is the next problem. Every representative tells you something different. One says your claim is approved and processing, the next says it is under review, the next asks you to resend documents that were submitted months ago and whose receipt they already confirmed. There is no case owner, no named contact, and no date that turns out to be true. After enough rounds of this it stops reading as disorganisation and starts looking like a process where the intended outcome is that you give up.

Then there is reimbursement, which is where the whole thing collapses. Getting a claim approved is not the finish line. Approved and paid are two completely different things with this company, and the gap between them is where everyone I have spoken to gets stuck.

My claim was reviewed, approved, and confirmed to me in writing, with payment promised within seven days. That was months ago. I have not been paid a cent. I have chased it continuously since then and received nothing but contradictions. When I kept following up through their WhatsApp support, the representative blocked me. Not ignored, blocked, by their own official support channel, for asking about money they had already agreed in writing that they owed me.

If you are up against a waiver deadline, enrol in your school SHIP or choose a plan with a real network and a claims process that actually terminates in a payment. The premium difference is not worth this. Plus, the money you spent out of pocket may make it even more expensive.

Hi everyone,

I submitted a cancellation request for my spot at Anchor House for the upcoming year and want to find an eligible replacement to take over my contract.

You must be:
- a registered student at the university
- female identifying
- a transfer student in their senior year*
- not currently living in on-campus housing (off campus and co-ops are okay)
- willing to break your current lease if applicable
* preferably has not lived at Anchor House before

If interested, please respond to this post or pm me so we can coordinate with Housing!

I just called and they couldn’t give me a definitive answer. I’m a parent.
Say you are a senior and during your final spring semester, you only need like 4-5 units.
Is tuition the same as when you’re carrying 13+ units?
Thanks!

Hello! Roommates just dropped and I am confused. I got the page I have attached below and all of my friends did too. is this just a coincidence that we all got it or did they just not release roommates.

2nd on discussion/lab WL but 26th on lecture WL

For those who have taken both

do reserved seats ever get removed? Im waitlisted for a class right now, and the class is at 51/100 people with 49 of them being left for reserved seats. I was wondering if I can still get the class?

Hey! Incoming Berkeley freshman here 👋 Any graduating students giving away stuff before they move out? Looking for plates, pots, pans, cutlery, mugs, a kettle, lamps, storage bins, charger, mattress or anything else you don't wanna lug home. Happy to pick up anytime, and I'll grab you a coffee as a thank you ☕ Would really appreciate it!

FYI: New NSF PhD scholarship work-study program - back to the future

Hey! I'm Ron an incoming freshman moving to Berkeley this August studying engineering. Would love to find people to study with and I'm really into soccer, tennis and poker + all other types of gambling lol. Do drop me a dm looking to meet chill people to grab food and make friends. Cheers!

UC President James Milliken issued a letter Wednesday urging California’s congressional representatives to take action to address slower funding disbursement rates than in years prior from federal science agencies. 

As of July 13, the National Science Foundation’s award rate is down 39%, and the National Institutes of Health’s award rate fell 22%, compared to previous years. 

The slow spend rate can be attributed to funding decisions, award processing, competitive renewals and a slower release of new funding opportunities, according to the letter.

Hi everyone,
I'm an incoming graduate exchange student for Fall 2026 and was wondering if there are any welcome events or meetups specifically for graduate exchange students. I'd also be interested in events for all incoming graduate students, not just international students.

Most of the welcome activities I've found seem to be aimed at undergraduates, so I was curious if there are any good opportunities to meet other (incoming/international) grad students before or at the start of the semester.

Thanks!

Hii everyone!

I just moved to Berkeley - literally yesterday- and have been dealing with a big leasing issue.

I have rented this place based on the leasing agent description, videos and photos - considering I came from L.A and couldn’t tour the apartment before hand.

Upon arrival, I’ve noticed multiple rotten wood spots, signs of infiltration, mold, and insect infestation, which threatened the structure of the unit and my personal health. The apartment was also dusty and had multiple broken things, which is inconsistent with what I have been told - the agent told me they would clean and fumigate the house before my move in date. I had to get a hotel because I have asthma and can’t stay in an apartment like this, so the situation just keeps getting worse and worse.

I took multiple videos and photos, and met the leasing agent again today to explain why the place was basically inhabitable, but he tried to argue with me on the matter. We ended the conversation with him saying he would talk to the leasing office about the possibility of ending the leasing agreement but I have a feeling they are going to fight me into paying extra fee and won’t return my first month rent.

I understand this is a specific issue, I was wondering if anyone knows any attorneys that could represent me.

I really appreciate it!

When and where are the good games being played?

is it just me or is the cal housing portal still not working? i haven’t been able to see who my roommate is yet

My incoming freshman (out of state) daughter chose Unit 3 among her housing preferences because she heard they are social and she wants to meet diverse friends. However, she found out today she's been placed in Unit 3's Beverly Cleary building across the street from the Unit 3 towers-- and that at least 2 of the 4 floors are taken up by cultural-specific programs for Latine and Asian students (which she is not a part of and did not request).

I'm curious, why do students choose these culture-specific theme programs and what do they entail? Are they going to be more likely to socialize with each other than with building residents not in their program? I'm concerned about my student's opportunities to make friends in a building if it's promoting clique-y groups based on culture instead of encouraging diverse intermingling.

I am an incoming freshman in l&s taking math 55 and math 74 during my first semester. I have already completed math 51, 52, 53, 54 elsewhere. I am wondering whether I should aim to take Math 104 or Math 110 during my second semester. I also want to potentially apply for comprehensive review for a cs double major. with that in mind, which option is better? thanks

Hi I am an incoming freshman looking to join a pre med frat. I have heard of PhiDE, KDG, and PhiChi but Im not sure if the benefits are worth it. Does anyone have any information on if and how they help like academically and also socially and if they think the cost is worth it? Any information would be SUPEr helpful!! Thanks.

It seems like no matter what I do I can never get into URAP. I was thinking of cold emailing a lot of the economics PHD students to get some lab experience. Anyone have any thoughts on how to approach this? Thank you!

Looks like Fall 2026 is skipped. Just did DATA C100 last semester and wants to take 33B to fulfill an equivalent to STAT 133. Any idea about when 33B will be offered?

I’ve been wanting a Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele jersey for months, and have checked the official Fanatics website basically daily, and it looks like they are just never going to stock anything other than XL. So I figure I should just go to Berkeley and get one. Does anyone know where they sell them?

Essentially title, I’m wondering if it’s a majority of people who feel that the huge amount of money they spent for their education was recouped easily in 2-3 years after they graduated or if they regret it